GENERAL INFORMATION

- Makronisos lies on the western end of Cyclades. It is only 2nm far from
the coasts of Attica and falls under the authority of the Municipality of the neighboring
Kea.

- It took its current name after its elongated shape (from north to
south) with has a length of 13km.

- In late antiquity (Strabo times) it was named Cranae in honor of the
daughter of the mythic king of Athens, Cranaus. As it is identified to the homonymous
Homer islet, where Paris and Helen made a stop on their way to Troy, it is also
called “Helen’s island”.

- Makronisos covers an area of 18.4km and its coastline has a total
length of 37km.

- It has three bays at Agkaliastro, Gerolimnionas and Mavria.

- Its highest peak at the north end of the island is the hill of Tripiti
(281m) which has a natural tunnel.

- There is great natural cave at Katazygia.

- The soil is rocky and barren with only a few springs that always dry
up in the summer.

- Mild winters, warm summers, strong winds, lots of sunshine and drought
are the main characteristics of the climate.

- The subsoil of the island is mostly relevant to Lavrio rather than to
the rest Cycladic islands. It is made of limestone and shale layers, with many
visible argentiferous ores (galena). Several underground mining undertakings for
argentiferous ores have been identified in many areas in Makronisos. Some are
attributed to the antiquity and others to modern times.

- Vegetation is dominated by Mediterranean maquis. Moorlands and phygana fields cover the largest
area of Makronisos.

- The land is solely a state property. It is periodically inhabited by
fishermen, farmers and beekeepers of Lavrio or technicians sent by the Ministry
of Culture for repair works in the buildings.